Paint and painting. Please read through the useful hints, tips and how to guides below.

If amount of paint is inadequate, thin and apply two coats rather than one thick coat for a better finish.

To soften
vinegar
Stand brushes in hot vinegar for an hour.

Tea-break for brushes
foil or plastic or water
If you take a short break, it is not necessary to wash your brushes: wrap them up securely or suspend them in water and they will stay soft.

To maintain
Drill a hole through the body of the brush just clear of the metal band that holds the bristles in place. You can then thread a skewer or piece of wire through it so that bristles do not rest on the bottom of the container when the brush is soaking.

Recycle brush-cleaners
Allow sediments to settle out of brush-cleaning fluids then pour clean fluid off into a container and seal.

Paint stirring
egg beater

Use an old egg beater to thoroughly stir paint.

To make stirring and mixing easier, leave paint tin upside down in a warm room overnight. Make sure the lid is tightly sealed first!

Lumps?
pantihose
Strain paint through an old pair of pantihose to remove lumps.

Drip-free painting
brush | foam rubber
Cut a square of thick foam rubber slightly wider and longer than a cross-section of the handle, make a small hole in the middle and force the handle through until the foam is just beneath the base of the bristles. The foam rubber will collect any drips. A foam rubber hair curler is useful for this.

brush | paper or foil plate

Push the handle through a hole in a disposable plate and protect yourself when painting above your head.

jam-jar lids

Put the legs of a piece of furniture into shallow lids to catch drips and prevent furniture sticking to paper or the floor.

To protect door furniture
petroleum jelly

Smear door knobs and other fittings with jelly before painting. or better still, remove them and replace when paint is dry.

To protect light fittings

plastic bag

Enclose fittings in a plastic bag and seal with an elastic band.

Cleaner skin
face cream
Before using acrylic paint, rub face cream over all exposed flesh. The dried paint can be wiped off with a damp tissue afterwards.

Holding paint tins
cake tin | cup hook
Screw an old cake tin or rack securely to a step ladder to hold paint tins, or screw a cup hook near the top of the ladder and hang tins from that.

To soften
vinegar
Stand brushes in hot vinegar for an hour.

Tea-break for brushes
foil or plastic or water
If you take a short break, it is not necessary to wash your brushes: wrap them up securely or suspend them in water and they will stay soft.

To maintain
Drill a hole through the body of the brush just clear of the metal band that holds the bristles in place. You can then thread a skewer or piece of wire through it so that bristles do not rest on the bottom of the container when the brush is soaking.

Recycle brush-cleaners
Allow sediments to settle out of brush-cleaning fluids then pour clean fluid off into a container and seal.

Cutting in
rubber band
Wind round bristles of a small paint brush to make it easier to get a straight line. Only dip brush into paint as far as the rubber band.

Painting doors or skirting boards

Spray nearby floor with water before applying the final coat to prevent dust flying up and spoiling the finish.

Painting floors

Work towards the door to avoid painting yourself into a corner.

Painting stairs

Paint every second step and allow to dry before painting the rest; you will still be able to use the stairs.

Painting window or mirror frames
masking tape or moistened soap

Apply masking tape to the edge of the glass to protect it from paint streaks or rub the glass well with damp softened soap. After the job, simply wash off the dry soap and paint streaks or peel off the masking tape. Be sure to remove masking tape as soon as possible so it does not stick permanently.

To remove stubborn masking tape
methylated spirits or milliners solution or Brasso
Peel off as much tape as you can, then scrub the residue with methylated spirits. If the tape is really stuck, wet it thoroughly with water or apply sodden newspaper to it till it can be removed. Use any of the above to remove the residue.

Paint storage

Mark the level of paint on the outside of the tin so it is easy to judge if there is enough paint for a particular job. Mark the last date of use too.

To prevent skins forming
aluminium foil
Cut a circle of foil and lay on the surface of paint before sealing. Alternatively, store paint tins upside-down so skin forms on the bottom. Be sure tins are tightly sealed!